Method of preciplttating rain-falls



(No Model.)

D. RUGGLES. Method .of Preoipi'tatng Rain Falls. No. 230,067; Patented July13, 1880.

VUNITED STATES APATENT OFFICE.-

DANIEL RUeeLEs, or FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA.

METHOD "OFf'PREGIP-HATI ,RAflfNftl-ZA I Ls.

SPECIFICATION forming To all whom -z't 'may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL RUGGLEs, of Fredericksburg', in the county of Spottsylvania and State oi' Virginia, have invented a new and useful )lode of Producing Rain or lrecipit-atin g Rain-Falls from Rain'-Glouds,for the purpose ot' sustaining vegetation and for protection against drought and for sanitary purposes; and I do hereby declare that'the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and letters ot' reference marked thereon, forming apart of this specification. i

The nature ot' my invention consists in sending one or more balloons into the cloud-realms, said balloon or balloons carrying torpedoes and cartridges charged with explosives, and there to esplode or detonate them by magneto electric or electric force through metallic wire, textile cordage, or by the fuse, or by -mechanical force, in order'to precipitate rain-fall by concussion or vibration ofthe atmosphere.

The drawing illustratesone mode of carrying my invention into practice, in which- B represents a balloon carrying dynamite torpedoes at a high elevation in the atmosphere or within the cloud-realm, the elevation of the balloon being effected by the usual appliances. v

\V indicates a'wire connected with the torpedoes stored within the balloon, and thence passes down toa reel, upon the ground, from which wire is reeled. ott' as the balloon ascends. From the reel R one end ofthe wire connects with a magneto-electric battery, (indicated at B,) also situated uponvthe ground, and by means of which the explosion of the torpedoes contained in the ballbon B can be eiiected when desired..

C indicates clouds-and the cloud-realm.

In the figure and surrounding the balloon B, 1 have represented various dotted lines and clusters of lines, and also zigzag lines, as. at L, representing lightning,- the saidfigure being au imaginary representation of such a condition as would appear immediately after an explosion of the torpedoes, and with rain part of Letters Patent No. 230,067, dated .'l'uly- 13, 1.880. l

Application filed June 7, 15:30, (No model.)

falling from the cluds C, as indicated in dotted lines at R.

My design is to employ every kindof explosive force atan elevation in the cloud-region of the atmosphere, in order to condense rain-clouds by concussive force or the power of explosion within such region, thereby precipitating rain to sustaiuvegetation, prevent drought, and also purify and renovate thel atmosphere during'v periods of pestilence and epidemics.

I contemplate the employment of nitroglyceriue, dynamite, chloratesot' nitrogen, gun-cotton7 gunpowder, fulmina'tcs, and other explosives. and to use the magneto-electric teli Instead of a single balloon provided withv explosives/-say ten small torpedoes or cartridges, each charged with'a half pound ot' dynamite and arranged forsimultaneous niagneto-electricexplosion-I propose in some lcases the /eniployment of small balloons in groups in the cloud -region, each providedl with explosives and arranged'for simultaneous explosion or detonation by either electric or mechanical force; andI contemplate not only to precipitate rain-fall, but also tocheck its fall inv over-abundance in a given locality by causing the rain-clouds to discharge rain before the'givenl locality has bowl-reached by such clouds.

My invention is based ou discoveries in meteorological science', and that electrical force sways and controls the atmosphericv realm and governs the movements-0f the` rain-clouds, bursting into thunder-storms, dispensing rain and hail, and into cyclones amlztorniulces illuminated by magnetoelectric fore-esas prime attributes ot' matter.

I propose to employ the lmagneto electric engine to send explosives into the cloud-realrn, and exploding torpedoes or other explosive and compressed air and steam in'to the at agents -within the cloud-realm, substantially w mosphere whenever found expedient, each as described. through its appropriate medium of metallic City of Austin, TexasfFebrnal-y 22,1879. 5 wire, textiledbencordage,and elastic tubes. I DANIEL RUGGLES.

Ic1a.im'-' l `l- ,Y t Witnesses: The mode herein described of producing THOMAS B. BOTTS, rain-fall, said mode consisting in conveying GARDNEBRUGGLES. 

